AFTER    NIGHT, 


A  SUMMER-PLACE  TALK, 


OTHER     POEMS. 


BY 


AELLA   GREENE, 

AUTHO*  OF  "'RHYMES  OP  YANKEE  LAND,"  AND  "  HAPPY  DAYS  AT  HAMPTON. 


BOSTON : 

LEE  &  SHEPARD. 
NEW   YORK: 

LEE,  SHEPARD  &  DILLINGHAM. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  by 

AELLA    GREENE, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


CLARK   W.    BRYAN   *   COMPANY, 

SLECTROTYPERS,    PRINTERS    AND   BINDERS, 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 


TO 


JjJenrtj 


IN    REMEMBRANCE    OF    HIS    INSPIRING    AND    SINCERE 
WORDS    OF    KINDNESS, 


"AFTER    NIGHT." 


CONTENTS. 


AFTER  NIGHT: 

PACE. 

"WHERE  WE  HAVE  COME  TO  SUMMER,"   ...          n 


"You  WROTE  ME  FROM  THE  CITY,"     ....  15 

"WHERE  You  FIRST  SAW  THE  LIGHT,"     .     .     .     .  18 

"  As   WE  BELIEVE  HIM," 23 

"WHERE  BRIGHT  A  RIVER'S  CRYSTAL  TIDE,"  .        .  33 

THE    ACHIEVEMENT, 43 

ANOTHER  EXPERIENCE, 47 


VI  CONTENTS. 

\  PAGE. 

GOING  TO  GOTHAM, 50 

Two  PLACES 52 


MISCELLANEOUS: 

ON  CANTERBURY  GREEN, 61 

"  BRIGHT  IN  A  PEACEFUL  VALLEY," 68 

CLARK  AND  THE  TWENTY-FIRST, 70 

fr 

THREE  FRIENDS, 73 

ON  A  TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY, 76 

"Too  MANY  HEARTS  ARE  SAD  TO-NIGHT"    ...  78 

"FROM  SUCH  AS  THESE,  GOOD  LORD," 80 

A  SUNDAY  AT  BUFFALO, 84 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

PAGB. 

WORDS  TO  MY  WIFE, 87 

A  MAN  OF  PROVIDENCE, 89 

THE  RIVER  ROAD, 91 

THE  ALLOPATHS, 92 


AFTER    NIGHT. 


I 


WHERE  WE    HAVE   COME   TO  SUMMER." 

\\  7 HERE  we  have  come  to  summer 

Refreshing'  breezes  blow, 
The  meads  are  decked  with  flowers, 

The  streamlets  murmur  low. 
The  mountains  are  around  us, 

Their  tops  against  the  sky, 
The  mountains  bold,  majestic, 

That  give  us  notions  high. 

Although  we  think  of  heaven, 

These  scenes  have  greatest  worth, 

In  that  they  make  us  happy 
In  dwelling  on  the  earth ; 

And  willing,  while  we  tarry, 


WHERE  WE  HAVE  COME  TO  SUMMER. 

To  labor  for  mankind, 
And  careful  climb  life's  ladder, 
Our  final  good  to  find. 

The  village  is  a  model 

Of  neatness  and  of  thrift, 
And  everything  within  it 

Is  on  the  upward  drift. 
The  cottages  are  painted 

In  trim,  becoming  style ; 
We  have  choice,  cosy  quarters, 

We  better  stop  awhile. 

In  search  for  health  and  comfort, 
I  think  we've  planned  it  well, 

To  sojourn  at  the  "Mansion," 
Pas'comuck's  good  hotel, 


"WHERE    WE    HAVE    COME    TO   SUMMER."  13 

Where  pleasant  people  tarry, 

Away  from  "  Saratogue," 
And  all  the  rounds  of  fashion 

Among  "the  ton"  in  vogue. 

The  ladies  are  conversing 

As  their  bright  minds  incline, 
Those  two  delightful  women, 

Your  wife,  dear  James,  and  mine. 
They're  happy  in  the  parlor, 

And  hark!  a  song  they  sing, 
A  grand  old  anthem,  bravely, 

To  tune  of  royal  ring. 

And  here  ensconced  together, 

We'll  cast  our  vision  back 
The  path  we  traveled  hither, 


14         "WHERE  WE  HAVE  COME  TO  SUMMER." 

And  trace  the  devious  track; 
And  see  through  all  our  journey 

Day  coming  after  night  ; 
If  thorns,  yet  still  the  roses, 

And  all  things  working  right. 

I  readily  remember 

Yours  was  a  sadder  sky ; 
The  angel  me  protecting 

Appeared  to  pass  you  by. 
And  still  you  had  some  blessings, 

Resembling  choicest  gold ; 
Some  days  with  joys  were  crowded, 

As  full  as  days  could  hold. 


"YOU  WROTE  ME   FROM   THE   CITY." 

"X/'OU  wrote  me  from  the  city 

That  you  were  sad  at  heart, 
And  thought  that  I  might  reckon 

That  grieving  is  your  art. 
But,  James,  have  done  with  sorrow ; 

There's  reason  to  be  glad, 
Besides  the  many  reasons 

That  ceaseless  sorrow's  bad. 

• 

'Tis  good,  friend  James,  to  see  you, 

And  take  your  hearty  hand, 
And  see,  in  spite  of  sorrow, 

You  're  looking  glad  and  bland. 
That  you  may  have  the  courage 


1 6  "YOU    WROTE    ME    FROM    THE    CITY." 

To  fight  life's  battle  through, 
You  should  be  still  more  joyful, 
And  there's  more  joy  for  you. 

And  I  will  entertain  you, 

If  you  will  give  me  leave, 
That  through  this  happy  morning 

You  have  no  time  to  grieve  ; 
Will  speak  of  your  good  blessings, 

Predicting  you  some  more, 
Your  brightest  days  repeated 

In  future  o'er  and  o'er. 

We'll  bid  good-by  to  business, 
Our  business  be  to  rest ; 

And  that,  like  other  callings, 
We'll  follow  with  good  zest. 


"YOU    WROTE    ME    FROM    THE    CITY.'  I/ 

When  rest  is  well  accomplished 

Ours  be  some  other  work ; 
And  so,  throughout  our  life-time, 

There  be  no  grain  of  shirk. 


WHERE  YOU  FIRST  SAW  THE  LIGHT." 


hence  we'll  make  excursions 
To  Berkshire's  breezy  hills, 
And  listen  to  the  music 
Arising  from  the  rills  ; 
We'll  gaze  on  Greylock's  grandeur, 

And  Housatonic's  vale, 
For  scenes  of  choicest  beauty, 
Was  never  known  to  fail  ; 

While  memories  of  giants, 

Like  Hopkins,  Briggs  and  Dawes, 
Shall  teach  to  work  and  suffer 

In  every  noble  cause  ; 
And,  rambling  'round  the  mountains, 


"  WHERE    YOU    FIRST    SAW    THE    LIGHT."  19 

Perhaps  we'll  come  in  sight 
Of  that  delightful  village 

Where  you  first  saw  the  light; 

Where  yours  was  pleasant  study 

When  August  waned  to  fall, 
Which  half  the  day  was  summer, 

Or  whether  autumn  all; 
When  harvest  was  completed, 

Blackberries  decked  the  hill, 
And  oxen  shed  their  tackle 

And  browsed  the  lot  at  will; 

When  trees  were  bent  with  sweetings 

Around  a  buckwheat  field, 
Affording  fragrant  promise 

Of  an  abundant  yield ; 


2O  "  WHERE    YOU    FIRST    SAW    THE    LIGHT. 

And  you  believed  that  heaven 
Was  through  the  upper  blue, 

And  thought  the  good  departed 
No  happier  than  you ! 

So,  in  our  Berkshire  rambles, 

We'll  plan  to  come  in  sight 
Of  that  delightful  village 

Where  you  first  saw  the  light ; 
And  where  you  passed  your  childhood 

And  had  your  griefs  and  joys, 
In  much  the  same  proportion 

As  did  the  other  boys; 

And  where,  a  little  later, 
Your  trouble  did  begin ; 
And  you  had  sore  departed 


"WHERE    YOU    FIRST    SAW    THE    LIGHT.  21 

To  foolishness  and  sin, 
Because  some  people  doubted 

Who  should  have  given  trust, 
And  all  your  pleasant  castles 

Were  crumbled  into  dust! 

And  so  my  words  sound  strangely 

That  call  the  village  blest, 
Though  there  you  'gan  your  being, 

And  there  your  kindred  rest ! 
And  yet,  you  make  exception 

About  a  single  case, 
Apparently  sufficient 

To  save  the  wretched  place. 

To  all  your  words  of  trouble 
One  gave  a  full  belief; 


22          "WHERE  YOU  FIRST  SAW  THE  LIGHT. 

By  faith's  refreshing  sunshine 
Dispelled  your  clouds  of  grief. 

He  praised  you  for  ambition, 
Your  new  made  plans  indorsed, 

And  helped  into  his  saddle 
Whom  cruel  men  unhorsed. 


"AS   WE   BELIEVE   HIM." 

/"T"*HE  project  you  remember  well, 

When  rested  with  one  man 
To  lift  to  life,  or  crush  to  death, 
A  dearly  cherished  plan  ; 

A  plan  to  write  and  bless  the  world, 

And  win  enough  of  gold, 
To  purchase  books  and  bread  and  clothes, 

And  shelter  from  the  cold. 

This  enterprise  appeared  to  some 

Assumption  on  your  part ; 
They  charged  you  with  a  foolish  pride 

And  vanity  of  heart. 


24  "AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM. 

Some  angel  then  directed  you 

To  dwelling  of  the  squire, 
Whose  kingly  soul  beamed  from  his  eyes, 

As,  at  his  parlor  fire, 

He  greeted  you  with  cheerful  word 
And  half  divined  your  plan  ; 

And,  in  a  world  of  little  men, 
You  found  one  noble  man! 

He  heard  your  story,  read  you  through, 

And  rose  unto  his  feet, 
And  spoke  the  words  I've  often  heard 

You  joyfully  repeat: 

"You  ask  me  here  to  recognize 
That  you  are  fit  to  do 


"AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM."  25 

The  noble  work  you  truly  think 
You  are  adapted  to. 

"And  that  I  will,  most  heartily, 

And  patronize  you  well ; 
How  high  your  enterprise  may  run 
No  one  can  fully  tell. 

"  My  social  sanction,  hard-earned  cash, 

And  prayers  that  God  will  bless, 
I  give  you,  with  my  sincere  faith, 
Predicting  you  success. 

"But  little  in  my  power  to  do, 

I  do  it  with  my  heart ; 
As  you  begin  your  long  life-race, 
I'm  proud  to  see  you  start!" 


26  "AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM." 

Heart-felt  adieus  were  interchanged, 
And,  grateful,  glad  and  strong, 

You  left  that  Bethel  of  your  life, 
Your  heart  uplift  with  song. 

The  squire,  for  prudence  noted  far, 
Was  queried  much  by  some, 

Who  thought  this  extra  charity 
Had  best  "begin  to  hum." 

"And  he  should  pay  the  minister, 

Or  paint  the  old  town  hall, 
Or  prop  his  neighbors'  fences  up, 
That  were  about  to  fall." 

And  that  to  one  whose  very  life 
Was  given  to  the  town  ; 


"AS   WE   BELIEVE   HIM."  2/ 

Whose  quickest  instinct  was  to  lift 
A  fellow  fallen  down  ! 

One  cautious  neighbor,  doubting,  asked, 

"Why  show  such  faith  as  this?" 
And  quick  the  squire  replied  with  force, 

"Therein  I  have  my  bliss. 

"To  see  this  man  is  bound  to  win 

It  needs  no  prophet's  ken  ; 
The  gospel  will  be  understood 
When  men  believe  in  men. 

"As  we  believe  him  he  will  be; 

If  we  doubt,  he  will  fall ; 
And  let  us,  while  we're  trusting  him, 
Largely  trust,  trust  him  all. 


28  "AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM." 

"No  measured  kindness  should  be  shown, 

Nor  artificial  cheer ; 

Much  we  should  trust  him,  always  bless, 
And  hold  his  interests  dear. 

"God  pity  those  who  can't  believe 

Unless  they  see  the  end ! 
According  to  the  Scriptures,  man, 
Where  do  such  notions  tend  ? 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,  if  thus  I  hint 

Such  doubting  smacks  of  hell ! 
But  is  not  that  where  doubters  go, 

As  Bible  teachings  tell? 

• 

"Fay  though  you  are,  you  act  the  fiend! 
You  laugh  at  this  kind  deed? 


"AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM."  2Q 

Why,  disbelieving,  selfish  man, 
I'd  help  e'en  you  in  need ! 

"  But,  by  my  word,  you  damage  more, 

In  any  way,  this  man, 
Whom  and  whose  parents  you  esteem 
But  worthy  social  ban, 

"  Depend  on  most  unhappy  luck 

In  all  you  hope  or  do; 
And  count  on  rugged  hills  and  thorns 
Your  whole  hard  journey  through ! " 

This  Fay,  I  think,  soon  after  died, 

And  six  paid  mourners  wept, 
And  two  pale  poplars  marked  the  spot 

Wherein  his  ashes  slept. 


3O  "AS    WE    BELIEVE    HIM. 

The  squire,  perennial  like  the  streams 

That  sing  his  vale  along, 
Is  brighter  with  advancing  years, 

And  with  his  age  grows  strong. 


"WHERE    BRIGHT  A    RIVER'S   CRYSTAL 
TIDE." 

"V  T  THERE  bright  a  river's  crystal  tide 

Descends  a  steep  cascade, 
To  drive  a  dozen  toiling  mills, 
Where  useful  goods  are  made, 


There  is  another  village  blest 

With  men  of  enterprise, 
Whose  peaceful  lives,  'twixt  wealth  and  want, 

And  happy  social  skies, 

And  lively  interest  in  things 

Of  church  and  neighborhood, 
And  constant  watchfulness  for  ways 

To  do  each  other  good, 
3 


34        "  WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER'S    CRYSTAL    TIDE." 

Might  well  be  envied  by  a  king, 

And  prompt  with  better  ken, 
To  sing  the  happiness  and  worth 

Of  these  great-hearted  men. 

% 

And  trustful  there,  but  trembling  still, 

You  asked  for  blessings  small ; 
The  noble  answer  ne'er  shall  pass 

Beyond  your  memory's  call ; 

• 

Nor  pass  from  mind  the  happy  hours 

Beneath  the  pleasant  shade 
Of  quiet  streets,  where  cosy  homes 

An  Eden  picture  made ! 

And  walking  there,  you  planned  to  build 
Your  work  so  sure  and  strong, 


"WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER'S    CRYSTAL   TIDE.          35 

It  should  remain  to  bless  the  earth, 
A  good  enduring  long. 

Forever  shall  be  dear  to  you 

The  cordial  greeting  said 
By  one  whose  kindness  was  so  wise, 

Yet  free,  your  heart  was  led 

To  banish  doubts  and  live  by  faith, 

By  trust  in  royal  souls ; 
By  faith  that  watchful  Providence, 

Who  all  the  world  controls, 

And  strangely  doth,  at  times,  permit 

Some  littleness  in  earth, 
Hath,  yet,  some  royal  contrasts  made, 

In  men  whose  ways  and  worth 


36        "WHERE    BRIGHT   A    RIVER'S    CRYSTAL    TIDE. 

Resemble  characters  the  bards 
To  ransomed  ones  have  given, 

And  which,  did  all  possess,  would  make 
This  earth  completest  heaven. 

Unto  this  man  each  useful  craft 

Appeared  a  noble  trade ; 
No  honest  calling,  well  pursued, 

Did  in  his  eyes  degrade. 

His  daily  business  was  to  drive 

The  works  where  plows  were  made ; 

And  in  his  creed  and  daily  walk 
Great  stress  on  smiles  was  laid. 

His  gracious  presence  often  cheered 
The  Hampden  harvest  club, 


"WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER*S    CRYSTAL   TIDE."        3? 

And  gave  right  tone  to  General  Court, 
Assembled  at  the  "Hub." 

For  years  he  led  the  Sunday-school 

With  dignity  and  grace  ; 
Nor  stories  told  to  prompt  the  boys 

To  learn  as  on  a  race. 

Hard  by  his  house  the  village  church, 

The  happy  Sabbath  home, 
Where  lovers  of  the  good  old  way 

Took  great  delight  to  come. 

And  you  and  I,  one  Sabbath  day, 

Chanced  in  that  house  of  God  ; 
And  reverently,  with  peace  and  joy, 

Those  pleasant  aisles  we  trod. 


38     "WHERE  BRIGHT  A  RIVER'S  CRYSTAL  TIDE." 

We  heard  the  pastor  preach  the  truth 

Of  every  sham  bereft; 
Before  him  earnest  Christians  sat, 

And,  at  the  preacher's  left, 

The  sweet-voiced  organ  and  the  choir, 
Whose  faces  beamed  with  song, 

Whose  notes  of  praise,  so  "glad  and  free," 
Shall  linger  with  me  long! 

And  to  the  young  men's  class  at  noon 
The  village  judge  discoursed, 

As  fittingly  on  Scripture  texts, 
And  moral  truths  enforced, 

As  he  the  common  law  explained 
To  sinners  'gainst  the  law; 


"  WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER'S    CRYSTAL    TIDE."        39 

And  from  a  field  of  wide  research 
Did  useful  lessons  draw. 

The  sun  was  setting  as  we  walked 

Along  the  shaded  street, 
And  through  an  opening  in  the  trees 

Beheld  a  vision  sweet! 

The  pleasant  river  winding  bright 

A  circling  ridge  around, 
And  whispering  pines  and  graceful  elms 

The  little  mountain  crowned. 

And  still  beyond  a  verdant  plain 

Where  erst  the  Indians  were, 
Before  these  lands  were  bought  by  whites 

For  beads,  ear-rings,  and  fur. 


4O        "  WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER  S    CRYSTAL    TIDE. 

And  down  the  river,  just  descried, 

Great  factories  arose, 
Where  short  the  river's  lesser  tide 

Within  a  grander  flows! 

And  farther  up  the  silver  stream 

The  Indian  Orchard  place, 
Where  mills  are  run  and  schools  are  taught 

With  industry  and  grace. 

And  where  the  Indians  took  the  leap, 

In  fabled  days  of  old, 
Into  the  stream,  o'er  which,  ere  long, 

Shall  railway  trains  be  rolled, 

Connecting  Pynchon's  ancient  town, 
Now  smart,  ambitious,  wise, 


"WHERE  BRIGHT  A  RIVERS  CRYSTAL  TIDE.       41 

With  towns,  and  lakes,  and  forests,  where 
New  Hampshire's  mountains  rise. 

Along  this  stream,  above  "the  leap," 

A  pleasant  roadway  runs, 
On  which  so  happy  once  I  walked 

In  best  of  April  suns. 

With  me  a  toiling,  sickened,  man, 

Whose  wise,  refreshing  talk, 
Gave  thoughts,  as  though  with  gods  and  kings ! 

I  had  this  pleasant  walk. 

His  patience  in  his  constant  pain, 

Content  with  humble  lot ; 
His  royal  words  of  kindly  cheer, 

His  constant  pining  not, 


42        "WHERE    BRIGHT    A    RIVER'S    CRYSTAL    TIDE." 

Could  but  inspire  me  much,  and  drive 

The  last  mind  cloud  away, 
And  radiance  pour,  and  song  call  forth, 

And  blissful  make  the  day. 

How  brightly  danced  a  near  cascade ; 

The  birds  sang  overhead ! 
Joy  ruled  the  hour !  Faith  cheered  me  on, 

And  Doubt,  grim  Doubt,  was  dead  ! 


THE   ACHIEVEMENT. 

r  I  ^HE  book  was  done,  in  pleasant  verse 

On  Smiths  and  other  men  ; 
And  when  'twas  done  you  had  a  thought 
To  write  it  through  again. 

The  critics  were  considerate, 

Right  well  the  volume  took; 
Rich  merchants  sought  to  grasp  your  hand, 

Wise  teachers  liked  the  book. 

A  gunboat  captain  said,  "  Old  boy, 

You  have  a  prosperous  gale  ; 
You're  wise  enough  to  shun  the  rocks, 

I'm  proud  to  see  you  sail ! " 


44  THE    ACHIEVEMENT. 

Heaven  bless  the  Hadley  farmer 
Who  drove  straight  into  town 

And  bought  two  copies  of  the  book, 
And  laid  his  money  down, 

Remarking,  "  I  delight  to  read 

A  book  of  home-like  lays, 
Rehearsing  scenes  of  common  life 

In  simple,  lucid  phrase ; 

"  A  volume  penned  by  one  who  sees 

A  hero  in  a  frock, 
And  likes  to  tell  the  praises  of 
Each  mountain,  rill  and  rock." 

A  book  man  whose  most  freezing  words 
So  tortured  you  at  first, 


THE    ACHIEVEMENT.  45 

Who  socially,  and  at  his  stand, 
Planned  keen  and  did  his  worst 

To  crush  your  enterprise  with  sneers, 

Seemed  quite  another  man, 
When  all  his  town  had  bought  your  book, 

And  critics  praised  its  plan. 

Such  greetings  kind  ;  such  rosy  smiles ! 

Such  fawnings  for  your  hand  ; 
Three  several  notes  so  humbly  put, 

And  signed,  "Yours  to  command!" 

An  average  aristocrat, 

Residing  down  at  Ware, 
Addressed  a  note  that  he  was  glad 

Your  prospects  were  so  fair. 


46  THE    ACHIEVEMENT. 

Then  you  recalled  how  once  he  sneered, 

And  now,  to  make  amends, 
He  sought  to  join  the  numerous  group 

Of  your  fair-weather  friends. 

Their  sickly  praise,  so  overdone, 

Showed  hollowness  of  heart ; 
How  much  unlike  the  Squire's  good  words, 

"  I'm  proud  to  see  you  start.'' 

And  'mid  this  meant  and  unmeant  praise 

You  kept  a  humble  mind, 
And  sought  in  grander  schemes  and  work 

Your  joy  and  rest  to  find. 


ANOTHER   EXPERIENCE. 

A   BOUT  the  tender  passion 

You  had  some  luck  unkind; 
And  yet  in  that  deep  sorrow 
Refreshing  good  you  find. 
It  grieved  her  much  to  tell  you, 

"Dear  James,  we  now  must  part; 
But  you  be  good  and  noble 
And  show  a  manly  heart. 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  wed  you, 

But  that  may  never  be  ; 
And,  in  the  great  hereafter, 
That  I  am  true  you'll  see. 


48  ANOTHER   EXPERIENCE. 

I'm  going  to  teach  a  mission 
For  cast-off  girls  and  boys  ; 

Therein  is  my  ambition, 

And  there  I'll  have  my  joys. 

"  I'll  never  wed  another, 

And  you  are  free  to  love; 
Choose  some  delightful  maiden; 

We  three  will  meet  above ! " 
You  chose  again,  dear  comrade, 

With  wisdom  in  your  choice ; 
And  at  the  happy  marriage 

Your  friends  had  right  rejoice. 

The  other  one  is  busy 
Her  mission  field  to  keep, 


ANOTHER    EXPERIENCE.  49 

But  prays  each  day  that  angels 

Forbid  you  cause  to  weep. 
Your  wife  is  true  and  loving ; 

You  walk  together  well ; 
And  noble  things  about  her 

You  always  have  to  tell. 


GOING  TO   GOTHAM. 


/^VNCE  on  important  business 

You  drove  to  Gotham  down, 
At  first  all  things  went  wrongly  ; 

It  seemed  a  drear  old  town. 
Each  man  you  met  was  stubborn, 

No  one  could  see  like  you  ; 
And  still  you  thought  "  in  some  way 

I'll  fight  this  business  through." 

You  left  the  city  thinking 

The  omens  augured  well  ; 
And  felt  assured  when  passing 

The  rocks  at  New  Rochelle, 


GOING    TO    GOTHAM.  51 

That  brighter  days  were  dawning, 

And  you  were  on  the  track ; 
With  promise  of  good  progress, 

And  no  more  sliding  back. 

Although  but  little  headway 

Tha  train,. at  times,  has  made, 
With  scarce  the  power  to  forward 

The  coaches  up  the  grade; 
You  still  have  been  advancing, 

Have  reached  the  town  at  last, 
With  many  friends  to  greet  you, 

And  skies  of  pleasant  cast ! 


TWO   PLACES. 

T^ORGIVING  my  rejoinder- 
Dear  friend,  you  paint  a  view 
Of  life's  wed  sweet  and  bitter, 

As  it  appeared  to  you  ? 
For  that  it  little  matters; 

Your  healthy  words  of  cheer 
Fill  this  auspicious  morning 

With  hopes  forever  dear. 

True,  James;  near  yours  my  birthplace, 

Where  I  may  never  be 
And  not  desire  to  journey 

That  place  no  more  to  see. 
As  there  my  noble  parents 


TWO    PLACES.  53 


Had  want  and  scornful  laugh  ; 
And  there  life's  cup  of  bitter 
My  lips  were  forced  to  quaff. 

But  still  the  place  was  lovely ; 

Some  people  were  quite  kind  ; 
The  others  I  will  pardon 

When  they  may  feel  inclined. 
It  is  not  wise  nor  manly 

To  nurse  our  griefs  too  long ; 
Let's  seek  the  pleasant  parlor, 

And  hear  the  ladies'  song. 

We  four,  to-day,  will  journey, 
So  as  to  come  in  sight 

Of  that  delightful  village 

Where  you  first  saw  the  light; 


54  TWO    PLACES. 

Where  winding  hill-side  roadways, 
And  purling,  limpid  streams, 

Cool  groves,  and  breezy  hill-tops, 
Excel  our  brightest  dreams; 

And  where,  abides  a  tanner, 

A  man  urbane  and  true ; 
Who  rose  to  estimation, 

These  western  counties  through; 
The  while  his  polished  partner 

Ruled  well  the  Commonwealth, 
Full  careful  of  the  treasures 

And  of  the  public  health. 

Although  a  central  railway 

Teems  with  its  thundering  trains, 
The  place  is  blest  with  quiet 


TWO    PLACES.  55 

As  were  Arcadian  plains. 
The  psalmist  had  sung  grander ; 

Inditing  here  his  psalm, 
And  found  for  griefs  and  trouble 

Sufficient  grace  and  balm. 

These  scenes  a  Yankee  school-girl 

Has  painted  finely  grand  ; 
The  woman  should  have  praises 

Throughout  our  Yankee  land. 
And  here  may  still  this  artist 

Depict  the  pleasant  scene 
Of  rock,  cascade,  and  forest, 

And  hillside  dressed  in  green. 

Arrived,  we'll  seek  the  dwelling 
Of  that  kind-hearted  man, 


56  TWO    PLACES. 

Who  helped  you  to  accomplish 
Your  dearly  cherished  plan. 

With  thanks  for  that  first  kindness 
Which  ever  will  be  new, 

Ours  be  a  hearty  promise 
To  fight  life's  battle  through. 


WHERE  PLEASANT  PEOPLE  TARRY." 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


ON    CANTERBURY    GREEN.* 

^THROUGHOUT  the  land,  from  east  to  west, 

No   more  inviting  scene, 
Along  the  streams,  and  on  the  plains, 

And  all  the  hills  between, 
Than  cheers  the  hearts  of  country  folk 

On  Canterbury  Green, 

When  summer  sunset  mellowness 

Rests  kindly  on  the  place, 
And  tired  toilers,  from  the  fields, 

Their  homeward  journey  trace  ; 
And,  at  the  evening  meal,  glad  hearts 

Devoutly  utter  grace. 

*  Canterbury,  Ct. 


62  ON  CANTERBURY  GREEN. 

The  little  smithy  blazes  still, 
The  "  great "  elm  tree  is  nigh,   . 

Rock  maples  shade  the  "  Blackhill "  road, 
The  Quinneboag  floats  by  ; 

And  citizens  for  factories 
Still  unsuccessful  try. 

The  score  of  dwellings  are  the  same 

As  in  the  days  of  yore ; 
The  school  is  undeserted  yet, 

The  all  important  "  store  " 
Holds  still  the  post,  and  gossips  there 

Still  tell  their  stories  o'er. 

There  calico,  and  crockery, 

And  picture-books  are  seen, 
And  ribbons  still  are  sold,  to  deck 


ON    CANTERBURY    GREEN.  63 

The  girls  of  sweet  sixteen, 
And  candy  red,  to  please  the  boys 
Of  Canterbury  Green. 

Although  the  "  training  days "  are  gone, 

And  husking  bees  are  few, 
And  old-time  ways  of  dress  and  calls 

Have  given  place  to  new, 
And  many  faces  known  of  yore 

Are  sleeping  'neath  the  yew, 

Good  people  still  inhabit  here, 

And  thrift  and  peace  are  seen, 
As  when,  a  hundred  years  ago, 

The  pioneers,  I  ween, 
Broke  turf  on  old  Westminster  hill 

And  Canterbury  Green. 


64  ON  CANTERBURY  GREEN. 

The  people  yet  are  well  aware 
What  ancient  "  meetings  "  mean  ; 

The  order  is  two  sermons  now, 
With  "nooning"  wedged  between, 

Within  the  church  that  still  remains 
On  Canterbury  Green. 

And  where  the  neighbors  worship  yet 

On  good  Westminster  hill, 
The  old  style  gospel  preaching  lasts, 

The  ancient  singing  still: 
And  much  we  hope,  in  future  years, 

This  service  ever  will. 

In  spite  of  all,  there  lingers  still, 

And  ever  will  be  seen, 
A  shade  at  which  "all  hands"  were  scared 


ON    CANTERBURY    GREEN.  65 

And  showed  their  foolish  spleen, 
Famed  Prudence  Crandall's  colored  school, 
On  Canterbury  Green. 

Far  back  in  eighteen  thirty-three, 

Town  meetings  fierce  were  seen 
Within  the  galleries  of  the  church 

On«  Canterbury  Green  ; 
And  speeches,  A.  T.  Judson  made, 

Complete,  close  put,  and  keen, 

Against  importing  negroes  there, 

To  learn  to  read  and  spell : 
That  were  unchristian  and  unwise, 

In  no  case  was  it  well ; 
In  fact,  they  all,  by  vote,  agreed, 

The  business  smacked  of  hell. 
5 


66  ON  CANTERBURY  GREEN. 

Although  the  school  was  broken  up, 
The  "cause"  good  progress  made, 

And  now  the  Canterbury  folk, 
Of  every  name  and  grade, 

Desire  their  parents'  foolish  ways 
From  memory  to  fade. 

But  last  it  will,  that  colored  fuss 

Of  eighteen  thirty-three  ; 
And  yet  we'll  think  that  good  may  still 

At  Canterbury  be ; 
And  thank  the  Lord  that  colored  folks 

Throughout  the  land  are  free. 

In  other  towns  much  foolishness 

And  inconvenient  spleen, 
And  other  pale  folks  to  the  blacks 


ON   CANTERBURY   GREEN.  6? 

Behaved  as  small  and  mean, 
As  they  who  spoiled  the  colored  school 
On  Canterbury  Green. 

While  Yankee  Doodle  is  our  song, 

And  stars  and  stripes  are  seen, 
May  Canterbury  folk  have  peace, 

And  keep  their  record  clean, 
And  everybody  speak  good  words 

Of  Canterbury  Green. 


'BRIGHT   IN   A   PEACEFUL   VALLEY." 

T)  RIGHT  in  a  peaceful  valley 

A  happy  village  sweet,* 
Where  homes  of  joy  are  ranged  along 
A  maple  shaded  street. 

There  dwells  a  manly  merchant 
Who  kindly  deigned  to  feed, 

And  gave  a  cordial,  friendly  word 
To  stranger  man  in  need, 

When  through  Otsego  county, 
Within  the  Empire  State, 

*  Worcester,  N.  Y. 


"BRIGHT   IN   A    PEACEFUL   VALLEY."  69 

All  tired,  disconsolate  and  faint, 
He  came  one  autumn  late. 

He  tells  to  me  his  story 

And  asks  that  I  rehearse, 
The  deed  and  his  felt  gratitude; 

But  I  have  not  the  verse 

To  paint  aright  the  village, 

Within  the  Empire  State, 
Wherein  this  manly  neighbor  dwells 

Whose  kindness  makes  him  great. 


CLARK   AND   THE   TWENTY-FIRST. 


Colonel  Clark  of  Amherst 
Was  major  in  the  field, 
Contending  in  the  Southland 

To  make  the  rebels  yield, 
The  general  said,  "  Brave  major, 

You  and  the  Twenty-first 
Must  charge  the  rebels  yonder, 
Where  they  will  do  their  worst." 

Then  prompt  the  major  uttered 
The  simple  answer,  "  Yes  !  " 

And  bravely  they  moved  forward 
Whom  we  delight  to  bless. 


CLARK    AND    THE    TWENTY-FIRST. 

And  there,  upon  famed  Roanoke, 
Clark  and  the  Twenty-first 

Discomfited  the  rebels, 

Who  did  their  bitter  worst. 

And  in  the  rebel  stronghold 

The  Bay  State  flag  was  placed, 
And  bright  a  starry  banner 

The  rebel  fortress  graced. 
And  through  much  more  of  fighting 

Clark  and  his  men  were  true  ; 
They  went  forth  strong  a  thousand, 

They  came  a  war-worn  few! 

The  angels  kept  the  leader 
Who  dared  the  thickest  fight, 


72  CLARK    AND    THE    TWENTY-FIRST. 

And  fought  to  hold  the  colors 
And  keep  our  honor  bright. 

Then  much  the  rebels  hated, 
And  often  since  have  cursed, 

Whom  we  delight  to  honor, 
Clark  and  the  Twenty-first. 

God  bless  all  gallant  soldiers 

Who  battled  for  the  flag, 
And  aided  in  the  conquest 

Of  Davis,  Lee,  and  Bragg. 
And,  through  our  glorious  future, 

A  song  to  all  who  erst 
In  bravery  resembled 

Clark  and  the  Twenty-first! 


THREE   FRIENDS. 

*T^HESE  lines  to  three  devoted  friends 

Whom  I  can  not  forget, 
In  all  the  ups  and  downs  of  life, 
Till  life's  last  sun  shall  set : 


The  probate  judge  at  Franklin's  shire, 

A  man  of  grace  and  grit, 
Who,  by  his  learning  and  his  worth 

Is  for  his  station  fit ; 

A  tall,  strong  miller,  wise,  and  built 
With  sunshine  in  his  heart, 


74  THREE    FRIENDS. 

Residing  in  South  Hadley,  near 
A  pleasant  school  of  art ; 

A  Lisbon  man  whose  greeting  kind 
Transforms  New  York,  to  me, 

From  busy  Babel  to  a  place 
Of  fountain,  flower  and  tree. 

The  Lord  have  pity  on  the  man 
Who  scorns  to  have  a  friend  ; 

How  high  his  plans,  at  last  they  must 
In  bad  disaster  end. 

Napoleonic  men  may  fight 

Their  battles  all  alone, 

« 

But  finally  a  Waterloo 
Their  rashness  will  atone. 


THREE    FRIENDS.  75 

Lord  grant  I  learn  the  useful  fact, 

We  are  by  others  strong ; 
And  they  sing  sweetest  who  have  heard 

Another  sing  the  song. 


ON   A   TWENTIETH   ANNIVERSARY. 

r  I  ^*WO  decades  bright  with  blessings  since 

We  'gan  life's  road  together, 
And  each  to  other  promised  faith 
In  every  sort  of  weather. 

With  gratitude  and  joyfulness 

At  good  with  which  He  crowned  us, 

We  look  unto  the  Father  high, 
And  thank  the  friends  around  us. 

And  here  with  them  we  offer  prayers 
That  through  each  coming  season 

Our  friends  and  we  abundantly 
Be  blest  with  health  and  reason. 


ON    A    TWENTIETH    ANNIVERSARY.  77 

And,  that  we  have  great  things  to  say, 

We're  minded  first  and  chiefly, 
The  words  that  speak  and  reach  the  heart 

Are  spoken  plain  and  briefly. 


"TOO  MANY  HEARTS  ARE  SAD  TO-NIGHT. 

r  I  "^OO  many  hearts  are  sad  to-night, 
I  may  not  dance  to  music  light. 
They're  sad  from  hunger  and  from  pain, 
And  sad  from  sin's  polluting  stain. 
Low  down  in  cellars,  up  the  stairs, 
Where  freely  pass  the  winter  airs  ; 
'Neath  wretched  shed,  and  in  the  street, 
Where  pelt  the  piercing  storms  of  sleet, 
Are  pallid  cheek,  and  sunken  eyes, 
And  forms  that  never  more  may  rise. 
I  may  not  dance  to  music  light, 
Too  many  hearts  are  sad  to-night. 
But  some   will  wake,  if  touched  aright, 
To  noble  purpose  and  brave  deed, 


"TOO    MANY    HEARTS    ARE    SAD    TO-NIGHT."  79 

And  grandly  with  their  duty  speed, 
Achieving  full,  complete  success, 
While  all  the  world,  admiring,  bless. 
All  this,  if,  now,  one  word,  aright, 
While  you  may  skip  to  music  light, 
I  speak  to  cheer  them  for  the  fight. 
Too  many  hearts  are  sad  to-night ; 
I  may  not  dance  to  music  light. 


"FROM  SUCH  AS  THESE,  GOOD  LORD." 

FT  ROM  up-start  mayors  of  little  towns, 

With  vanity  inflated, 
Whose  worth,  by  citizens  and  self, 
Is  vastly  overrated  ; 

From  wordy  politicians,  bent 

On  making  a  sensation ; 
From  new-made  agents  of  the  mills 

Who  don't  deserve  the  station  ; 

From  officers  who  went  to  war 

To  dangle  swords  about  'em, 
And.  eyed  the  enemy  from  far, 

But  never  tried  to  rout  'em  ; 


"FROM    SUCH   AS    THESE,    GOOD    LORD."  8 1 

Who  drew  revolvers  on  their  men, 

To  bring  complete  submission, 
But  ne'er  before  the  foe  assumed 

Belligerent  position  ; 

From  dapper  "  profs  "  in  charge  of  schools 

Demanding  able  teachers ; 
From  puppet  pulpiters,  in  place 

Of  royal  men,  for  preachers ; 

From  consequential  merchants,  proud 

Of  "our  superior  dry  goods  ;" 
From  those  who  visit  stores  to  look, 

But  never  go  to  buy  goods  ; 

From  men  who  visit  editors 

To  teach  them  journalism, 
6 


82  "FROM    SUCH    AS    THESE,    GOOD    LORD." 

Or  pelt  some  rival  citizen, 
Or  air  some  social  schism ; 

From  men  imbued  with  sham  reforms, 
A  howling  round  the  cities  ; 

From  other  mobilier  fuss, 
Or  mobilier  committees  ; 

From  men  who  prove  supremely  small 
When  you  expect  them  royal ; 

From  citizens  who  traitors  turn, 
When  they  are  expected   loyal — 

From  such  as  these,  good  Lord,  defend, 

And  graciously  deliver, 
And  send  us  manly  men  instead, 

And  we  will  praise  thee  ever. 


"  FROM  SUCH  AS  THESE,  GOOD  LORD."      83 

But  since  at  home  we're  highly  blest 

And  of  such  plagues  divested, 
I'll  say  by  incidents  afar 

These  verses  were  suggested. 

And,  while  we  pray  that  Heaven  may  grant 

We  have  such  curses  never, 
We'll  pity  people  cursed  with  them 

In  places down  the  river  ! 


A   SUNDAY   AT   BUFFALO. 

T  F  ever  a  mortal  was  worn, 

I  found  myself  so  by  the  lake, 
The  very  best  object  on  earth 
On  which  funny  verses  to  make. 


Then  luckily  thought  came  of  one 

Who  gladly  would  show  me  his  home, 

And  deem  me  unkind  not  to  call, 
And  happiness  find  to  say,  come. 

By  him  I  was  rested  and  fed 
And  treated  to  many  good  rhymes, 


A    SUNDAV    AT    BUFFALO.  85 

Preserved  in  a  scrap  book,  to  keep 
Remembrance  of"  old  Yankee  times. 

On  Sunday  we  called  at  a  church 

Where  trim  a  sleek  preacher  stood  up 

And  talked  his  pink  nothings  so  soft, 
I  prayed  the  good  Lord  he  would  stop ! 

Or  turn  his  attention  to  hell, 

Say  bad  men  were  going  straight  there, 
And  every  one  needed  to  mourn, 

And  give  himself  up  unto  prayer. 

Twere  better  than  bass-wood  and  soap 
And  soft  sighs  of  sweetness  so  fine, 

Which  the  "  ton  "  in  their  ecstacy  said, 

Were  "  thplendid,  and  gwand,  and  diwine  !  " 


86  A    SUNDAY    AT    BUFFALO. 

On  Monday  the  "  zephyrs  "  blew  bleak 
And  cheerfully  howled  from  the  lake, 

As  forth  in  good  season  I  drove, 
The  'Lantic  express  train  to  take. 


WORDS   TO   MY   WIFE. 


wife:   amid  the  work  that  comes 
My  absence  to  prolong, 
I  take  this  bright  and  sunny  hour 
To  rhyme  for  thee  a  song, 

And  thank  thee  for  thy  earnest  prayers, 

That  God  hath  answered  well, 
In  health,  and  hope,  and  many  joys, 

I  have  not  time  to  tell  ; 

In  friends  who  cheer  me  at  my  tasks, 

And  pray  that  God  will  bless, 
And  earnestly  and  constantly 

Desire  me  good  success  ; 


88  WORDS    TO    MY    WIFE. 

In  grit  to  work  and  to  endure, 
And  for  success  to  wait ; 

In  faith  that  God  will  keep  me  safe 
From  every  cruel  fate  ; 

In  faith  that  God  is  always  thine, 
And  sends  his  angels  near, 

To  guard  and  guide  the  darling  one 
Who  holds  my  interests  dear. 

Pittsfield,  September,  1873. 


A   MAN   OF    PROVIDENCE. 

TO    REV.  E.  F.  C. 

T  N  Providence  a  man  so  kind,  so  good, 

So  wise,  the  city  seemed  correctly  named  ; 
A  man  who  copied  well  John  Wesley's  life, 
And  Christ  the  heavenly  master  followed  well, 
And  honored  well  an  ancient  order,  grand 
With  many  quiet  men,  who  much  have  done 
To  banish  want,  and  light  this  darkened  world; 
A  man  whose  heavenly  business  did  not  bar 
From  frequent  trips  to  glens  and  breezy  hills  ; 
A  man  whose  luck  with  rod  and  line  on  lake 
And  brook,  far  up  the  pleasant  Pine  Tree  State, 
Was  known  and  liked  by  all  his  happy  flock. 
Would  there  were  more  like  him  to  bless  the  world, 


9O  A    MAN    OF    PROVIDENCE. 

And  change,  or  crowd  from   foothold  here  below, 

The  men  who  so  embitter  earth  by  self, 

And  doubt  of  other  men,  and  hate  at  sight 

Of  their  aspiring  looks  and  skyward  steps, 

That  earth  which  should  be  heaven  hath  very  hell 

Wherever  their  drear,  bitter,  presence  bad 

Is  permanent. 


THE  "RIVER    ROAD."* 

TN  joyous  spring  or  winter  cold, 

And  in  the  autumn  sun, 
The  trains  upon  our  northern  route 
With  good  success  are  run. 

And,  bound  to  Methodistic  camp, 

Or  going  mountainward, 
On  picnics  bent,  or  politics, 

The  people  with  accord 

Declare  they  like  the  "River  Road," 

Its  managers  and  men  ; 
And  when  they  wish  another  ride, 

They'll  try  that  route  again. 

•Connecticut   River    Railroad. 


THE   ALLOPATHS. 

T    WISH  that  all  the  allopaths 
Had  all  their  sins  forgiven, 
And  were  translated  from  the  earth 
To  highest  seats  in  heaven ! 

And  all  their  books  of  medicine, 
And  all  the  drugs  they  mix 

Were  ferried  far,  and  finally, 
Beyond  the  river  Styx ! 

The  pleasant  herbs  that  healthful  grow 

On  every  happy  hill, 
God  has  ordained  to  aid  the  sick, 

And  calomel  will  kilL 


THE    ALLOPATHS.  93 

May  light  be  given  with  coming  years, 

And  mild  "  botanies  "  rule  ; 
And  only  history  record, 

There  was  another  school ! 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 
Illllllllllllll  Illl 


A    001  365  008    o 


